Norwegian Refugee Council workers Rescued

KiN Newsroom
The four aid workers from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) who were kidnapped on Friday when their convoy was attacked by armed militia outside Dabaab refugee camp in eastern Kenya have been released. One of the council’s local drivers was shot and died while three others were wounded. Dabaab is the world's largest refigee camp with over four hundred thousand refugees from Somalia. The camp is situated in eastern Kenya about 100 kilometers from the Somalian border.

Elizabeth Rasmusson. Photo: NRC

The Secretary General of NRC Elizabeth Rasmusson witnessed the Friday attack at close hold having been a passenger in one of the vehicles.

Rasmusson told NRK (Norwegian national TV): “I saw the kidnappers. As far as I could see, there were four of them. They were armed with pistols. The stopped us, and threatened everyone. They managed to take a car (with Norwegian Refugee Council staff sitting inside) and disappear with them.”

NRC vehicle attacked. Photo: scanpix

A Somali military commander confirmed Monday morning that government troops rescued the four foreign aid workers who were held hostage inside Somalia after the deadly armed attack on NRCs convoy in probably the world’s largest refugee camp.

Astrid Sehl (33) one of four NRC workers rescued after the tragic armed attack. File photo from Dabaab, October 2011 by ATTIS SANDBALD/ VG

"Our forces have rescued the four aid workers kidnapped from Kenya in an overnight rescue operation," Colonel Abdullahi Moalim told Reuters.
"They are healthy and unhurt," he said.